FAČR is considering selling Rošický Stadium and has already taken steps

Prague - The Football Association of the Czech Republic could sell the Evžen Rošický Stadium in Strahov, Prague, where it originally wanted to build a national arena. However, it did not receive the necessary support from the state, so it is focusing on other projects and considering disposing of the dilapidated buildings. It has already initiated the necessary administrative steps, and the executive committee of the Czech Union of Sports (ČUS) decided today to propose to the May general assembly to release the FAČR from contractual obligations stating that the stadium was to remain a sports venue until 2028.

"When the city and state decided not to invest billions into the stadium in Strahov due to transport infrastructure, we are toying with the idea of selling," said FAČR Chairman Miroslav Pelta to ČTK during the draw for the UEFA Women's Euro 17 Championship on Friday.

"We have significant investments ahead towards Ladronka, where we want to build an administrative building for the associations, two fields, and a covered hall. But we are still not at a stage where any decision has been made," he added.

Previous restrictions on ownership rights did not allow the FAČR to sell the stadium. This will no longer apply once it is released from all contractual obligations that the FAČR took on when the stadium was transferred from the ČUS ownership in 2013. Among other things, the stadium was to remain a sports venue until 2028, and the ČUS held a right of first refusal.

According to Aktuálně.cz, the FAČR will pay a compensation of 10 million crowns for this. The total amount that the ČUS will receive for the transfer of the stadium is 288.8 million crowns, of which about 119 million remains to be paid. According to Pelta, the FAČR will use the money it saved from not ultimately bidding for co-hosting the 2020 European Championship to cover the compensation.

"For the ČUS, this is a very lucrative transaction. The overall benefit will increase to 288.8 million crowns, plus it will provide the necessary land for the construction of a new House of Sports, which will house the ČUS, various associations, a hall of fame for Czech sports, and potentially the office of the Czech Olympic Committee," states the ČUS statement.

This eliminated one of the obstacles to a possible sale. Now, the most significant hindrance to the stadium sale could be the zoning plan since the city leadership wants to preserve Strahov as a sports area. "I would warn all private investors who want to buy land with functional use for sports and plan to build housing on it. The city has no interest in changing the zoning plan there,” stated Petra Kolínská, Deputy Mayor, for MfDnes.

The Evžen Rošický Stadium was opened in 1926 and underwent reconstruction in 1978. In the past, it hosted several league teams, including Sparta, Slavia, Bohemians, and Dukla, which played there during the reconstruction of their own stadiums. It regularly served as the venue for the cup finals. Today, it is used for training by the national football team, referees, and athletes from the University Sports Centre. Operating losses in previous years ranged from 1.2 to 2.9 million crowns per year.

The FAČR originally acquired the arena with the goal of building a national stadium for 30,000 people, which would co-host the 2020 European Championship. However, the association did not receive a commitment from the state and withdrew from the project and candidacy for football leadership.

"Several options for reconstructions were studied, from a national football stadium to a multifunctional stadium that was to be primarily designated for football but also serve athletes. The project included mobile stands that would cover the athletic track during football matches. The reconstruction option has not yet been realized, as the state and the Capital City of Prague have never been willing to financially support it,” said Jan Zikl, who is responsible for stadium management at FAČR.